Budding entrepreneurs start their paths by looking for unique opportunities. Perhaps they scour the internet with a keen eye, discerning various sources of information on startup costs. Or they may pick the brains of friends, associates, and thought leaders for insight and ideas on what type of business they could open that would meet a need in their area.
Some quickly narrow the search to burger franchises, seeing a burger restaurant simultaneously as a tried-and-true foundation (the burger) with boundless opportunity to satisfy customers by offering a better or different product.
Okay, so where do they go next? The idea is one thing, but capital is another. Some burger franchises may require millions of dollars in up-front investment. The good news is that not all burger concepts are cost-prohibitive, and it’s quite easy to thus narrow the search to those that are more accessible in price.
What Are the Options in Less Expensive Burger Franchises?
Not only are franchises of brands such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King expensive to open, those familiar chains may be a bit too familiar. Consumers today love trying new things and are always looking for something that is higher quality and outside the box that they are used to. They want a brand — a twist on the familiar — they can call their own.
Luckily, a number of burger brands strike the right balance of being a chain, which benefits franchisees with successful systems and marketing, while also communicating a unique product proposition to the consumer. Here are a few of those, each with a relatively affordable cost of entry for potential franchisees.
Cheeburger Cheeburger
According to FranchiseDirect.com, Cheeburger Cheeburger franchises require a minimum of $100,000 in liquid assets on hand. The brand touts its quality, reasonably priced food in large portion sizes, with friendly service, in a wholesome, comfortable, and nostalgic atmosphere.
Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries
This brand presents a “fresh, all-American diner experience to small towns and suburbs,” states FranchiseDirect.com. The menu features fresh, hand-pattied burgers, house-made frozen custard, salads, and more. The minimum cash required is around $125,000.
Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
Requiring potential franchises to show at least $150,000 in cash, Teddy’s uses 100 percent ground chuck with proprietary grinding methods to make its patties more tender, according to FranchiseDirect.com. The flame-broiled burgers are complemented by extra-thick shakes.
Sonic Drive-In
One of the more well-known of the lower-priced burger franchises, this 60-plus-year-old chain’s uniqueness owes to its covering a lot of ground with its menu, encompassing “all five day-parts,” from breakfast forward, according to FranchiseDirect.com. Franchisees must show $250,000 in cash to get started.
Slater’s 50/50
“Burgers, Bacon & Beer” is the branding of Slater’s, whose signature item is the 50/50 Burger (half ground beef and half ground bacon patty). A franchisee with at least $250,000 can get rolling with this blended-burger brand, per FranchiseDirect.com.
MOOYA Burgers, Fries & Shakes
Like other burger chains outside of the huge ones, MOOYA aims to serve a “better burger.” Fresh 100 percent Certified Angus Beef burgers are made to order. They also offer turkey burgers, black bean veggie burgers, and all-beef hot dogs. FranchiseDirect.com reports that $250,000 in cash is required to open a MOOYA location.
Wayback Burgers
A real standout in the better burger category, Wayback Burgers grew tremendously in 2018 and continues to expand, as QSR Magazine reported. The brand’s strength is in being an affordable, special alternative to fast food burger chains. It’s not fast food, it’s fast-casual — combining the quick service of fast food with the high-quality menu and dining atmosphere of a casual restaurant.
In 2018, foodservice research firm Technomic reported that fast-casual concepts are leading growth in the restaurant industry. And QSR magazine found that fast-casual is the only restaurant segment to grow traffic in the past five years.
The Wayback Burgers menu includes several incredible cooked-to-order specialty burgers, sandwiches, chicken, hot dogs, hand-dipped shakes, and much more. And the cost of entry is attractive. Wayback Burgers looks for franchise candidates with at least $100,000 in liquid capital.
If you are a first-time business owner looking for guidance, systems, and support, or a seasoned entrepreneur looking for your next investment opportunity, check out Wayback Burgers. Wayback offers qualified candidates the opportunity to open and operate a business in the highly sought-after fast-casual sector with a small footprint and a big upside.